Fence-post



2 Sheets-Sheet, 2.

J. H; PIRSON.

(No Model.)

FENCE POST.

No. 603,454.A Patented May 3,1898.

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UNITED `STNrEs vPATENrr OFFICE.

JAMES H. PIERSON, OF WORTHINGTON, INDIANA.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iietters Patent No. 603,454, dated May 3, 1898. Application led September 7, 1897. Serial No. 650,872. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that l, J AMES H. PIERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worthington, in the county of Greene and Sta-te of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in fence-posts, and more particularly to that class of plastic posts formed of clay, shale, or analogous vitreous material, the object being to provide a simply-constructed, inexpensive, and durable fence-post of this class.

To this end the novelty consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of the elements of the same, as'will be hereinafter more specifically described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, the 'same reference characters indicate the same parts of the in- Vention.

' Figure 1 is a perspective View of my in1- provedwfence-post as adapted for awire fence. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same. .Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinalv section. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section. Fig. 5 is a perspective v iew showing a modification of the post. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section showing the manner of securingthe wires.

1 represents the tubular metallic post proper, approximately -cylindrical in crosssection, its diameter decreasing. uniformly from base to top and having a longitudina slot 2 cut through its wall and running the full length thereof. This post is also provided with a longitudinal series of orilices opposite the slot 2, in which wire staples 3 are inserted and clenched, as shown in Fig. 3, to secure the horizontal fence-wires 4.

5 represents a tubular subpost or socket member, of clay or other vitreous material,4

burned after the usual manner of treating bricks or tiling, and is set in the ground with its upper end liu'sh with or slightly above the surface thereof and forms a socket for the post 1. This subpost is approximately cylindrical in cross-section and is provided withy oppositely-disposed longitudinal flanges 6, which, when the subpost is properly set in the ground, should aline with the trend of the fence, the object of this construction being to give the lateral faces of the said subpost a maximum area to sustain the fence against lateral inclination and at the same 6o time employ a minimum of material in construction.

The outer diameter of the lower end of the post 1 is slightly greater than the bore 5 of the subpost, and to facilitate insertion of the post the inner wall of the subpost is provided with an outwardly-daring annular face 7, which gradually reduces the outer diameter of the post to the bore of the subpost when the former. is being driven to place. 7o

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the slot 2 in the post 1 serves a dual purpose in that it admit's of the diameter of said post being contracted and of the free use of a tool in clenching the staples 3. l

In the modification shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the tubular post la is of a uniform diameter throughout, and the horizontal fence-Wires are threaded through two oppositely-disposed vertical series of orices 8 on a line with the 8o axis of the post. After the Wires have been put in place and stretched taut in the usual manner a wooden Awedge-piece 9 is inserted, which forces a portion of the wire out of alinement with the body thereof, forming a kink 10. By this means kinks or undue slack is taken out of the body of the wires and they are positively secured against longitudinal movement. A particular ad vantage of this construction is that should a combined 9o wire and board fence be desired the boards may be firmly secured by nailing through the yslot 2 into the wooden wedge-piece. A modied form of subpost is also illustrated in Fig. 5 and consists of the addition of an annular 95 iange 11 at the base of said subpost, the object of which is to overcome the tendency of frost to upheave the post. I further provide segmental lugs l2 contiguous to the vertical flanges 6 on each side thereof and integralroo therewith and with the body of the subpost as auxiliaries in preventing the lifting of the post.

In each construction it will be noted that the greatest strength and durability are attained with a minimum of material and eX- pense, while the appearance of the completed fence is highly ornamental.

A factor of perfect drainage is common to each form, the construction being such that all surface-water enters the bore of the vitreous subpost and is dissipated therefrom into the porous underground, keeping all standing water from contact with the wood and metal superstructure.

Another important advantage of my invention is that the wires are secured in place without the use of nails or staples, which have a tendency to cut the wire and at the same time are constantly loosening.

A further object I have in view in the construction of my improved post is to provide a perfect electrical conductor from the fencewires to the earth. It is a well-recognized fact that a wire fence wherein the usual allwood post is employed is extremely (langerous to live stock or to human beings who are in its vicinity during a thunder-storm.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s

1. A fence-post for Wire fences, comprising a metallic post proper having a continuous longitudinal bore, a continuous longitudinal y slot through its wall communicating with said bore, and guides for the wires, and a subpost provided with a continuous drain and postreceiving bore merging into a flaring annular face at the top thereof adapted to gradually contract the lower end of the said post proper when it is inserted into said subpost-bore, substantially as described.

2. A fence-post for wire fences, having a longitudinal bore, a continuous slot through its wall communicating with said bore, a series of alined orifices forpassage of the fencewires, and a wedge inserted Vinto the bore of the post adapted to clamp the wires, and a subpost having a continuous longitudinal bore,longitudinal flanges with segmental lugs on either side thereof and an annular flange at the base of said subpost, substantially as described.

A fence-post, comprising a post proper, and a subpost or socket member having a bore adapted to receive said post proper and to serve as a drain-inlet, said subpost provided With longitudinal ilanges 6, an annular iangell on the base of said subpost, segmental lugs 12 on each side of the flanges G and integral therewith and with the body of said subpost, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

h1 JAMES s H. rmRsoN.

mark Vitnesses:

S. H. CARNAHAN, GEO. SEYFORT. 

